As someone over at David Thompson’s pointed out, in the case of Penny Dreadful we have someone who is simultaneously intelligent enough (or so she says) to tell everyone how they ought to live, but too thick to be allowed out in public.

Given the woman’s harriesque creative talents, it’s likely the entire event’s a work of fiction intended to remind her audience what a sophisticate she is. Most likely, she was probably ticketed for jaywalking by one of New York’s Finest & discovered that the DONT CROSS light applies to lefty journalists as well.
Note to Ms Penny: It being red doesn’t make it your personal, private colour.